Taptam upsets Euphony at Oaklawn

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Taptam edged comebacking 6-5 favorite Euphony near the wire to win the on a sloppy main track Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

Euphony finished a half-length back in second in her first start since August, while it was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third to pacesetter Be Fair.

Taptam ($15.80) broke well from the rail and settled just off Be Fair, who led the field through factions of 23.60 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.65 for the half-mile. Jockey Corey Nakatani angled Taptam to the outside of Be Fair midway on the final turn, while Euphony advanced along the rail and took the lead in the stretch. Taptam got past her late to cover the mile and a sixteenth for fillies and mares in 1:46.90.

"She showed a lot of courage and ran a great race," said Nakatani, who was aboard for trainer Bret Calhoun.

Cliff Berry was aboard Euphony, who was 4 for 4 at Oaklawn going into the Pippin.

"I might have moved on her a little early because [Be Fair] went a little wide in the second turn," Berry said. "She definitely ran hard and tried hard to the wire, though."

Taptam became the sixth horse to come out of the $100,000 Star of Texas at Sam Houston on Dec. 5 and win in their next start. She was the favorite against males in that Texas-bred stakes and finished an uncharacteristic ninth. Taptam races for Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch.

* Attendance ontrack Saturday was 10,457.